Kaduna State University (KASU) successfully hosted the 3rd Registrar’s Workshop and the 77th Business Meeting of the Association of Registrars of Nigerian Universities (ARNU) with the theme “University Ranking in the face of Global Competitiveness: The Way Forward for Nigerian Universities,” from Monday, 12th to Friday, 17th May 2025.
The programme commenced with a courtesy visit by the ARNU leadership to the Vice Chancellor of KASU, Prof. Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa on Tuesday, 13th May 2025. The delegation, led by ARNU Chairman, Dr. Bala I. Ahmed, expressed gratitude to the university for hosting the event. He introduced the association and commended the Vice Chancellor for the warm reception, reaffirming ARNU’s commitment to promoting administrative excellence across Nigerian universities. The ARNU Executive Committee also paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Zazzau, His Royal Highness, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, CFR.
The conference formally kicked-off on Wednesday, 14th May 2025 with a welcome address by the Registrar of KASU, Samira Balarabe, Esq. She warmly received participants from across the country, expressing her delight at hosting the gathering and encouraging attendees to maximize the knowledge-sharing opportunities the event offered.
In his remarks, Dr. Bala I. Ahmed commended KASU’s hospitality, describing the environment as both welcoming and inspiring. He gave special appreciation to Barr. Samira Balarabe for her outstanding support and dedication. He further urged Nigerian universities to support ARNU’s capacity-building initiatives, emphasizing the relevance of the conference theme in light of current challenges in the education sector. A key focus of the workshop was the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in university administration to enhance global visibility.
Declaring the workshop open, Vice Chancellor Prof. Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa noted that the programme aligns with KASU’s strategic goals. While recognizing the role of global university rankings, he stressed that institutional impact—measured by improvements in lives and contributions to national development—should take precedence. He reaffirmed KASU’s commitment to delivering 21st-century academic programmes that address local and national challenges.
A cultural performance by students from the Department of Theatre and Performing Arts added vibrancy to the opening ceremony, reflecting values of unity and collaboration.
Mr. Adewale Bakare, Deputy Director of Corporate Services, represented the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu. He commended the organisers and emphasized the vital role of university administrators in driving transformation. Similarly, goodwill messages were delivered by the Chief Judge of Kaduna State, Hon. Justice Muhammad Tukur Mu’azu Aliyu (represented by Mr. Benjamin Hassan, Chief Registrar, High Court), and the Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammad Rabiu (represented by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Mr. Idris Bunu).
The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Her Excellency, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe, was represented by the Director-General, Kaduna State Schools Quality Assurance Authority, Prof. Usman Abubakar Zaria. He applauded ARNU’s leadership and highlighted the state government’s commitment to education, noting that 26 percent of the state’s revenue has been allocated to the sector under Governor Uba Sani’s administration.
Dr. K’tso Nghargbu, Director of Linkages and International Cooperation at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, spoke on the importance of strategic partnerships. He urged universities to engage with reputable institutions, establish sustainable endowment funds, enhance their online presence, and sign more Memoranda of Understanding to strengthen global rankings.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa emphasized the need for universities to establish clear benchmarks and continuously assess their strengths and weaknesses. He argued that rankings should prioritize knowledge production and societal impact over mere statistics. He advocated for a shift from foreign academic models to indigenous frameworks that reflect Nigeria’s unique realities. He also underscored the critical role of registrars in shaping conversations around global rankings and indigenous knowledge systems. Urging the promotion of African perspectives in global academia, he called for a transition from epistemological mimicry to epistemological ownership.
Mr Joseph Ifeoluwa presented a paper titled “University Cooperation and Strengthening Institutional Partnerships for Academic Excellence.” He advocated for enhanced inter-university collaboration, the promotion of entrepreneurial talent, the facilitation of innovation, and stronger alumni engagement to address global challenges.
The Dean of the Faculty of Computing at Kaduna State University, Dr. Muhammad Aminu Ahmad, delivered a lecture on “Exploring Artificial Intelligence as a Veritable Tool for Administrative Excellence.” He outlined how AI can optimise administrative processes including workflow automation, fraud detection, resource allocation, communication, feedback collection, and predictive forecasting. He recommended improvements in infrastructure, language support, power supply, and staff training as essential for harnessing the benefits of AI.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by the Secretary-General of ARNU, Rev. Daniel Igwilo, Registrar of Tansian University, Umunya Anambra State.